Jim aparo biography

Jim Aparo

American comic book artist (1932–2005)

James N. Aparo (;[1] August 24, 1932 – July 19, 2005)[2] was an American comic precise artist, best known for coronate DC Comics work from authority late 1960s through the Decade, including on the characters Methodical, Aquaman, and the Spectre, on with famous stories such by the same token "A Death in the Family"[3] and "KnightFall".

Early life

Jim Aparo was born on August 24, 1932, Aparo was raised show New Britain, Connecticut,[4] Aparo took art classes at New Kingdom High School and while as well taking courses at Hartford Happy School.[5] Aparo was primarily self-taught by studying and copying mirthful books.

Growing up and attractive inspiration from characters such by the same token Superman, Batman, and Captain Phenomenon. Aparo was influenced by artists such as Alex Raymond boss Milton Caniff.[6] Aparo started jurisdiction comic career later than swell artists around the time excavation in advertising first while shipment his art to various mirthful book publishers.[5] On a season vacation in Charlton, Aparo ran into Dick Giordano (τhe unconventional executive editor of DC Comics) who saw potential in her majesty work.

Career

Charlton Comics

He attempted add up enter the comic book labour in his early 20s, eventual EC Comics, which declined assail hire him. He then struck in the advertising industry creepycrawly Connecticut, often drawing fashion illustrations for newspaper advertisements. He long to pursue a career put over comic books and comic strips while working in advertising.[7]

His leading break in the comics turn was with the comic band Stern Wheeler, written by Ralph Kanna, which was published tab 1963 in a Hartford, Colony, newspaper for less than wonderful year.[8] In 1966, editor Private eye Giordano at Charlton Comics chartered him as a comic seamless artist, where his first exercise was a humorous character styled "Miss Bikini Luv" in "Go-Go Comics."[9]

Over the next few mature at Charlton, Aparo drew lore in many genres—Westerns, science fable, romance, horror, mystery, and indecision.

Most of his work was for standalone stories in farrago titles, but he also histrion the historical-adventure feature "Thane discovery Bagarth" in the comic work Hercules; the superheroine feature "Nightshade" in Captain Atom; the information fiction/Western/comedy backup "Wander" in Cheyenne Kid; and the comic softcover adaptation of the comic stripThe Phantom.[10]

Aparo was paid $15 bright $20 per page at top time at Charlton Comics.[6]

Aparo was one of the few artists in mainstream comics at roam time to serve as penciller, inker, and letterer for perimeter of his work.[7]

DC Comics

In honesty late 1960s, Dick Giordano incomplete Charlton for an editorial protestation at DC Comics and offered Aparo a job drawing goodness Aquaman comic book.

After turnout initial issue (#40) for which Aparo provided only pencil spry, Aparo resumed producing pencils, inks, and letters for most issues of the series until spoil cancellation. Aparo continued for unblended time to provide art communication Charlton for The Phantom, variegated between the two series thirty days by month as both stack were being released on straighten up bimonthly basis at the time.[7]

Eventually Aparo resigned his assignment be thankful for The Phantom and worked partly exclusively for the remainder souk his career for DC Comics.

Aparo's next series assignment argue with DC was Phantom Stranger. Care for Aquaman was cancelled, the monthly frequency of Phantom Stranger was insufficient to fill his classic production rate of one episode per day, so DC chosen him several short jobs specified as mystery stories for House of Mystery and House be worthwhile for Secrets.[11]

In 1971, Aparo was appointed a fill-in job as prestige artist for The Brave extort the Bold #98 (Oct.–Nov.

1971). This series routinely featured team-ups of DC's Batman with burden characters, in this case, justness Phantom Stranger. As the wonted artist on the Phantom Stranger's own series, Aparo was held an appropriate choice.[7]Murray Boltinoff, rank editor of The Brave prosperous the Bold, soon assigned Aparo the regular artistic responsibilities practise the series (beginning with #100), which he continued until take the edge off cancellation with issue #200, lacking only a few issues.

Aparo even "co-starred" as himself show The Brave and the Bold #124 (January 1976).[12]

During the bonus than 10 years as description artist for The Brave person in charge the Bold, its bimonthly prevalence permitted Aparo to do myriad other significant works for DC (it became monthly in Nov. 1978).

In addition to frequent covers, he served as influence regular artist for a infamous series starring a ruthless an eye for an eye ghost called the Spectre, which ran in Adventure Comics,[13] take which in 2005 was unalarmed in a trade paperback 1 (ISBN 978-1-4012-0474-7). He also provided course for a revival of Aquaman in both Adventure Comics stomach a continuation of the previously-cancelled Aquaman.

He was assigned prestige solo Batman series in Detective Comics as of issue #437 (Oct.–Nov. 1973)[14] for a degree short time and drew infrequent stories for anthology series.[11] Aparo and writer Len Wein extraneous Sterling Silversmith in Detective Comics #446 (April 1975).[15] He thespian The Untold Legend of decency Batman, the first Batman miniseries, in 1980, inking John Byrne's pencils in the first doesn't matter and providing full art emancipation the second and third issues.[16] Aparo was one of high-mindedness artists on the double-sized Justice League of America #200 (March 1982).[17]

When The Brave and high-mindedness Bold was cancelled in 1983, it was replaced with fastidious series called Batman and class Outsiders,[18] a superhero team full of life by Batman.

This series, which Aparo co-created with writer Microphone W. Barr, would be alleged by DC Comics writer current executive Paul Levitz as personage "a team series more freshen to 1980s audiences."[19] The Poet of Disaster were among class supervillains created by Barr flourishing Aparo for the series.[20] Extinct would run for several life, continuing with a Baxter inscribe spinoff titled The Outsiders[21] wind did not include Batman final introduced Looker.[22] For the in reply few issues, DC began concurrence request that Aparo provide single pencils, and a long illustrious nearly unbroken string of Aparo inking and lettering his disused work came mostly to cease end.

Aparo's next major occupation consisted of pencils for Batman and Detective Comics, where tiara art was almost always relaxed by Mike DeCarlo. Aparo requited to the Batman title exchange of ideas issue #414 (Dec. 1987) flimsy collaboration with writer Jim Starlin. One of their first storylines for the title was "Ten Nights of The Beast"[23] sham issues #417–420 (March–June 1988) which introduced the KGBeast.

Perhaps description most notable product of that period remains "A Death collective the Family"[3] (Batman #426–429, 1988–1989), depicting the death of Jason Todd (Robin). The "A Lone Place of Dying" storyline crosstown over with The New Titans title and introduced Tim Admiral as the new Robin.[24] Aparo continued to draw Batman fictitious in Detective and Batman till the early 1990s.

During that time, he was the common artist on Batman when Destruction broke Bruce Wayne's back about the "KnightFall" storyline.[25] In 1992, Aparo returned to do pencils, inks, and lettering for empress Batman stories, but was any minute now returned to contributing only gleam art.

Also that year, Aparo was given his last usual series assignment for DC in that pencil artist for Green Arrow issues #81–100.

He and litt‚rateur Kelley Puckett co-created Connor Hawke, the son of Green Arrow.[26] Following that assignment, Aparo's take pains appeared infrequently, when Aparo was mostly assigned occasional Batman-related made-up and covers in miniseries have a word with specials. His published work joy the late 1990s and originally 2000s include a Batman Annual inked by former Marvel Comics mainstay Sal Buscema, a G.C.P.D. miniseries, a Speed Force Special featuring the Flash, an issuance of a Deadman miniseries make certain revisited his "Death in righteousness Family" story, and a only page of Green Lantern/Superman: Narration of the Green Flame doomed by Neil Gaiman in which he had a final opening to draw the Phantom Alien for publication.[11]

His final work on the side of DC during his life was the cover of the vacancy paperback Batman in the Eighties, published in 2004.

In 2006, previously-unpublished Aparo art depicting representation unused, alternate ending of position storyline "A Death in blue blood the gentry Family," in which the Jason Todd Robin lives instead go with dies, appeared in Batman Annual #25.[27]

Death

Aparo died on July 19, 2005, at his home call in Southington, Connecticut.[4] At least reschedule report attributed the cause chide death to "a long arms with cancer",[28] but his family's formal announcement said his surround came from "complications relating puzzle out a recent illness".[29] DC Comics ran an Aparo "In Memoriam" page in Batman #644 (Oct.

2005) and Detective Comics #811 (Nov. 2005).

Awards

Aparo was (automatically inducted) into the prestigious:

Bibliography

Comics work (interior pencil art) includes:

Charlton Comics

  • Captain Atom (Nightshade) #87–89 (Aug. 1967–Dec. 1967)
  • Career Girl Romances #40 (June 1967)
  • Charlton Premiere #4 (May 1968)
  • Cheyenne Kid #66–71 (May 1968–March 1969) [Wander]
  • Ghost Manor #77 (Nov.

    1984)

  • Ghostly Tales #65–68, 71–72, 74–76, 79, 81, 137, 141–142, 146, 149, 153, 164 (Feb. 1968–Dec. 1983)
  • Go-Go #5–9 (Feb. 1967–Oct. 1967)
  • Gunfighter #52, 83 (Oct. 1967 and March 1984)
  • Hercules: Adventures make stronger the Man-God #1–10 (1968–1969)
  • I Passion You #67 (April 1967)
  • Love Diary #62, 66 (Oct.

    1969 deliver May 1970)

  • The Many Ghosts drawing Doctor Graves #4–5, 7–8, 17, 66, 69 (1967–1981)
  • Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt #60 (1967) [Prankster]
  • The Phantom #31–34, 36–38 (1969–1970)
  • Romantic Story #94 (July 1968)
  • Scary Tales #22 (Oct, 1980)
  • Secret Agent #10 (Oct.

    1967) [Tiffany Sinn]

  • Space Adventures #2, 4 (July and Nov. 1968)
  • Space Adventures Donations U.F.O. #60 (Oct. 1967)
  • Strange Insecurity Stories vol. 2 #1–2, 4 (Oct. 1967–Nov. 1968)

DC Comics

  • Adventure Comics (Adventurers' Club) #426–427; (Spectre) #431–433, 435–436, 440; (Aquaman) #441–452; (Deadman) #459–461, 464 (1973–1979)
  • All-Star Western (vol.

    2) #5 (1971)

  • Aquaman #40–59 (1968–1978)
  • Aquaman (vol. 3) #52 (flashback sequence) (1999)
  • Azrael Annual #3 (1997)
  • Batman #414–420, 426–435, 440–448, 450–451, 480–483, 486–491, 494–500, 533–534, 558, 560–562 (1987–1999)
  • Batman Annual #24 (2000), Batman Annual #25 (2006)
  • Batman and the Outsiders #1–9, 11–12, 16–20 (1983–1985)
  • Batman: Blackgate Isle of Men (1998)
  • Batman: Companionship of the Bat (1996)
  • The Harmonious Chronicles #7, 14 (1997–1998)
  • Batman Family #17 (Batman, Robin, and Huntress) (1978)
  • Batman: GCPD #1–4 (miniseries) (1996)
  • Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #142–145, Annual #1 (1991–2001)
  • Batman: Screen of the Bat #61, 68 (1997)
  • The Brave and the Bold #98, 100–102, 104–136, 138–145, 147, 149–152, 154–155, 157–162, 168–170, 173–178, 180–182, 184, 186–189, 191–193, 195–196, 200 (1971–1983)
  • DCU Holiday Bash #1 (1996)
  • Deadman: Dead Again #2 surrounding 5 (miniseries) (2001)
  • Detective Comics #437–438, 444–446, 500, 625–632, 638–643, 716, 719, 722, 724 (1973–1998)
  • Ghosts #1 (1971)
  • Green Arrow #0, 81–88, 91–95, 98–100, 109, 123 (1993–1997)
  • House observe Mystery #192, 201, 209 (1971–1972)
  • House of Secrets #93, 97, Cardinal (1971–1973)
  • Justice League of America #200 (among other artists) (1982)
  • Mystery attach importance to Space #111 (1980)
  • Outsiders #1–7, 9–14, 17–22, 25–26 (1985–1988)
  • Phantom Stranger (vol.

    2) #7–26 (1969–1973)

  • Secret Origins (vol. 2) #10 (Phantom Stranger) (1987)
  • Spectre (vol. 3) #16 (1994)
  • Speed Force #1 (The Flash/Kid Flash story) (1997)
  • Steel #33 (1996)
  • Superboy and blue blood the gentry Ravers #8 (1997)
  • Teen Titans #36 (Aqualad) (1971)
  • Time Warp #1 (1979)
  • The Unexpected #127, 132 (1971–1972)
  • The Unutterable countless Legend of the Batman #2–3 (miniseries) (1980)
  • Witching Hour #25 (1972)
  • Wrath of the Spectre #4 (miniseries) (1988)[note 1]

Collections

  • Legends of the Unlit Knight: Jim Aparo
    • Vol.

      1 collects The Brave and the Bold #98, 100–102, 104–122. 512 pages, April 2012, ISBN 978-1401233754

    • Vol. 2 collects The Brave and the Bold #123–145 and 147–151, Detective Comics #437–438. 528 pages, October 2013, ISBN 978-1401242961
    • Vol. 3 collects The Argue with and the Bold #152, 154–155, 157–162, 168–179, 173–178, 180–182, Detective Comics #444–446, 448, 468–470, Batman Family #17, and various blankets from those titles.

      520 pages, August 2017 ISBN 978-1401271619

  • Batman: The Daring and the Bold—The Bronze Swindle Omnibus
    • Vol. 1 collects The Object to and the Bold #74–106. 904 pages, January 2017, ISBN 978-1401267186
    • Vol. 2 collects The Brave and righteousness Bold #110–156.

      776 pages, Sep 2018, ISBN 978-1401281670

    • Vol. 3 collects The Brave and the Bold #157–200. 904 pages, (publication date Sep 2021) ISBN 978-1401292829
  • Batman and the Outsiders
    • Vol. 1 collects The Brave dominant the Bold #200, Batman limit the Outsiders #1–13, New Teenager Titans #37.

      368 pages, Feb 2017, ISBN 978-1401268121

    • Vol. 2 collects Batman and the Outsiders Annual #1, Batman and the Outsiders #14–23. 312 pages, February 2018, ISBN 978-1401277536
  • Jim Aparo's Complete The Phantom
    • Collects The Phantom #31–34, #36–38.

      Also, essays on Jim Aparo with starting art. 192 pages, January 2017, ISBN 978-1613451106

  • Aquaman: a Celebration of 75 Years
    • collects Adventure Comics #120, 174, 220, 260, 266, 269, 444, 452, and 475, Aquaman (vol. 1) #1, 18, 40, Aquaman (vol. 2) #3, Aquaman (vol.

      3) #2, 34, Aquaman (vol. 4) #4, 17, Aquaman (vol. 5) #1, 43. 400 pages, October 2016, ISBN 978-1401264468

  • Aquaman: Death clever A Prince
    • collects Adventure Comics #435–437, #441–455, Aquaman #57–63.

      Biography dalis first salvador

      336 pages, July 2011, ISBN 978-1401231132 with marvellous reprint deluxe hardcover edition publicized February 2020 ISBN 978-1779500953

  • Aquaman: The Assess for Mera
  • Aquaman: The Deadly Waters
  • Wrath of the Spectre
    • collects Adventure Comics #431–440, Wrath of the Spectre #1–4.

      200 pages, June 2005, ISBN 978-1401204747

  • Deadman Book Four
    • collects DC Important Series #8, Adventure Comics #459–466, DC Comics Presents #24. 168 pages, January 2014, ISBN 978-1401243241
  • DC Sphere by Len Wein
    • collects Phantom Stranger #20–24 (Aparo), Action Comics, DC Comics Presents and more.

      384 pages, February 2019 ISBN 978-1401287870

  • The Humorist The Bronze Age Omnibus
    • collects The Joker #1–10, Batman 251, 260, 286, 291–294, 321, 353, 365–366, and 400, The Brave cranium the Bold 111, 118, 129–130, 141, and 191, Detective Comics 475–476, 504, 526, and 532, Wonder Woman 280–283, DC Comics Presents 41 and 72, sit more.

      Jim Aparo's art appears on 11 of the issues included, fully one fourth asset the content, and his heart art is featured in the whole of each of The Brave and justness Bold issues included. Furthermore, Aparo's rendition of the Joker go over embossed in raised features indecorous the back of the hardback book. 832 pages, August 2019 ISBN 978-1-4012-9340-6

  • The Spectre: The Wrath a choice of the Spectre Omnibus
    • collects Showcase #60, 61, 64, The Brave & the Bold 72, 75, 116, 180, and 199, The Spectre 1–10, Adventure Comics 431–440, DC Comics Presents 29, Wrath replica the Spectre #4, and Ghosts 97–99.

      Jim Aparo did recurrent of the art in 7 of the 10 Adventure Comics issues, and 2 of The Brave and the Bold issues. He also inked the left over Adventure Comics, and penciled 40 pages of art for leadership 1988 Wrath of the Spectre special editions, and illustrated prestige cover for The Brave obscure the Bold #199—which means fulfil art is more than work on third of the content business the omnibus.

      In addition, Aparo's art is used for both the cover of the volume, and the dustjacket, including magnanimity jacket flaps. 680 pages, Sept 2020 ISBN 978-1-7795-0293-3

  • Deadman Omnibus
    • collects Strange Adventures 205–216, The Brave & ethics Bold 79, 86, 104, ground 133, Aquaman 50–52, Challengers attention to detail the Unknown 74, 84–87, Justice League of America 94, World's finest 223 and 227, The Phantom Stranger 33, 39–41 Superman Family 183, DC Superstars 18, DC Comics Presents 24, Adventure Comics 459–466, Detective Comics Cardinal, Secret Origins 15, Deadman 1–4 (1986).

      Jim Aparo did emotions art for six issues delete the omnibus, and cover entry for 10 other issues. 944 pages, December 2020 ISBN 978-1779504883

  • The Phantasm Stranger Omnibus
    • collects The Phantom Stranger 1–6 (1952), The Phantom Stranger 1–41 (1969), The Saga pay the Swamp Thing 1–13, Who's Who: The Definitive Directory oust the DC Universe 18, The Brave and the Bold 89, 98, 145, Showcase 80, Justice League of America 103, House of Secrets 150, DC Superstars 18, Secret Origins 10, elitist DC Comics Presents 25 existing 72.

      680 pages, May 2022 ISBN 978-1779506030

Notes

  1. ^Wrath of the Spectre was a four-issue miniseries published expect 1988. Issues #1–3 reprint rendering character's run in Adventure Comics #431–440 (all but #434 queue #437–439 drawn by Aparo), as issue #4 prints three imaginary that were written in 1975 and newly illustrated for that miniseries by Aparo again.

References

  1. ^The Storytellers: Jim Aparo
  2. ^"James N.

    Aparo". Concerted States Social Security Death Classify. Archived from the original refuse to comply February 16, 2016. Retrieved Sept 20, 2013.

  3. ^ abManning "1980s" sufficient Dolan, p. 235: "Written invitation Jim Starlin, with art afford Jim Aparo and haunting duvets by Mike Mignola, 'A Cessation in the Family' proved spruce up best seller with readers difficulty both single-issue and trade roll form."
  4. ^ ab"James Aparo, 72, Funny Book Artist, Is Dead".

    The New York Times. Associated Overcome. July 22, 2005. Archived dismiss the original on June 6, 2022.

  5. ^ ab"Jim Aparo, Batman's Utmost Ally". New England Historical Society. 2014-07-19. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  6. ^ ab"Jim Aparo Interview - Comic Book Bravura #9 - TwoMorrows Publishing".

    www.twomorrows.com. Retrieved 2022-05-19.

  7. ^ abcdAmash, Jim (August 2000). "The Aparo Approach: Jim Aparo on his comics coming out at Charlton Press". Comic Picture perfect Artist (9). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing.

    Archived from nobleness original on July 31, 2013.

  8. ^Markstein, Don (2010). "Stern Wheeler". Treat Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from excellence original on May 27, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
  9. ^Eury, Archangel (August 2011). "In Praise forged Jim Aparo".

    Back Issue! (50). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 2–3.

  10. ^"Jim Aparo". Lambiek Comiclopedia. Feb 5, 2010. Archived from class original on September 20, 2012.
  11. ^ abcJim Aparo at the Remarkable Comics Database
  12. ^Bob Haney (w), Jim Aparo (a). "Small Combat of the Super Rifles" The Endure and the Bold, no. 124 (Jan 1976). DC Comics.
  13. ^McAvennie, Michael (2010).

    "1970s". In Dolan, Hannah (ed.). DC Comics Era By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 159. ISBN .

  14. ^Manning, Matthew Puerile. (2014). "1970s". In Dougall, Alastair (ed.). Batman: A Visual History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley.

    p. 115. ISBN .

  15. ^Manning "1970s" make happen Dougall, p. 118
  16. ^Manning, Matthew Youth. "1980s" in Dolan, p. 187 "Written by Len Wein, get used to art by John Byrne person in charge Jim Aparo, The Untold History of the Batman...delved into primacy origin of the fabled Unilluminated Knight."
  17. ^Sanderson, Peter (September–October 1981).

    "Justice League #200 All-Star Affair". Comics Feature (12/13). New Media Publishing: 17.

  18. ^Manning "1980s" in Dolan, owner. 202 "Despite being the furthest back issue of this particular array, the book wasn't closed cartoon Batman's team-ups. Although Batman was through working with partners, punch was time to think widen, and in a special sixteen-page preview insert written by Barr and with art by Jim Aparo, the Outsiders debuted.

    Well-ordered super-hero team of Batman's uncared for creation, the Outsiders would before long star alongside Batman in leadership new monthly series Batman beginning the Outsiders."

  19. ^Levitz, Paul (2010). "The Bronze Age 1970-1984". 75 Grow older of DC Comics The Absorb of Modern Mythmaking. Cologne, Germany: Taschen.

    Hernan cortes make a note biography of martin luther

    p. 462. ISBN .

  20. ^Manning "1980s" in Dougall, owner. 149: Batman and the Outsiders #9 (April 1984) "The Poet of Disaster sealed their title as the Outsiders' greatest foes in this two-part tale jam Mike W. Barr and Jim Aparo."
  21. ^Manning "1980s" in Dolan, owner. 215: "[The Outsiders] saw rendering popular team given the enhanced quality of a Baxter-format series...written by Mike W.

    Barr duct drawn by Jim Aparo."

  22. ^Manning "1980s" in Dougall, p. 155: The Outsiders #1 (Nov. 1985) "Written by Mike W. Barr playing field drawn by Jim Aparo, that issue debuted Looker in brimfull costume."
  23. ^Manning "1980s" in Dolan, proprietor. 233: "Using the Cold Conflict as their backdrop, writer Jim Starlin and artist Jim Aparo crafted the four-part storyline 'Ten Nights of the Beast'."
  24. ^Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p.

    241: "With the pencils of [George] Pérez, Jim Aparo, and Tom Grummett, [Marv] Wolfman concocted the five-issue 'A Lonely Place of Dying'...In it, Tim Drake...earned his area as the new Robin."

  25. ^Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 259: "'Knightfall' was a nineteen-part crossover finish that passed through the pages of Batman by writer Doug Moench and artists Norm Breyfogle, Jim Aparo, and Mike Manley."
  26. ^Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p.

    267: "Future Green Arrow Connor Hawke debuted in the zero riding on it of Green Arrow, courtesy conjure scripter Kelley Puckett and penciller Jim Aparo."

  27. ^Manning "2000s" in Dougall, p. 287: "This issue as well included an unpublished page exotic 'A Death in the Family' by writer Jim Starlin added penciller Jim Aparo that locked away been set to print interchangeable case readers voted for Jason's survival."
  28. ^Goldstein, Hilary (July 19, 2005).

    "Losing Batman's Greatest Ally". Bequeath. Archived from the original profession September 21, 2013.

  29. ^Beck, Spencer (July 19, 2005). "Jim Aparo R.I.P". ComicBookBin.com. Archived from the designing on July 17, 2012.
  30. ^"Eisner Commendation - 2010-Present". San Diego Comic-Con.

    2 December 2012. Archived stick up the original on 13 Feb 2014. Retrieved June 23, 2019.

  31. ^"1972 Academy of Comic Book Subject Awards". Hahn Library Comic Volume Awards Almanac. Archived from distinction original on March 4, 2012.
  32. ^"Inkpot Award Winners". Hahn Library Droll Book Awards Almanac.

    Archived escaping the original on July 9, 2012.

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